Stormy session likely at CPI(M) meet

By C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 11. The Muslim League question appears to be haunting the CPI(M) like never before. The party State committee meeting, beginning here on Saturday, is likely to be dominated by another round of discussion on the subject.

The discussion would centre on the two circulars issued by the CPI(M) State secretary, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, on July 24 and on August 6 ``clarifying'' the party stand on the question of having tactical understanding with the UDF constituents in the upcoming panchayat polls. The message essentially was that the party units could go in for tactical tie-up with UDF constituents at the local level if there arose dissension among the UDF ranks.

The first circular and the way Mr. Vijayan chose to put the State committee decision across to the media had touched off a furore in party circles. The politburo and the party Central committee had stepped in to clarify that there was no question of the CPI(M) having any local-level tie-up with the Muslim League as a party.

However, the first circular continued to be discussed by CPI(M) district secretariats well into the first week of August and there was strident opposition to the content of the circular. The second circular was issued in this context, but its content has also not gone down well with the Achuthanandan faction. The second circular, according to party insiders, is a reiteration of the position stated in the first circular.

The CPI(M) State secretary and leaders who favour a tie-up with the Muslim League have the argument that the position taken by them would create a situation where UDF constituents would feel confident to revolt against the Congress(I) rather than wait for a rebellion to take place and then go in for tactical adjustments. The Congress(I), in their perception, is certain to go in for covert and overt tie-up with the BJP in several places. There could also be other irritants in the Front's relations at the time of sharing of seats and candidate selection. If the CPI(M) is seen as offering an alternative, so goes the argument, the other UDF constituents would be encouraged to revolt. This would be beneficial for the CPI(M) and LDF.

But this position had been challenged at the last State committee meeting by the politburo member, Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan, and others opposed to any sort of tie-up with the Muslim League. They are certain to rake up the issue once again and question the message sought to be conveyed by the State secretary. How they would fare this time would depend upon the ground work that the rival sides have done during the last few days in preparation for the State committee meeting.

The CPI(M) State secretariat met here today in preparation for the State committee meeting. The politburo member, Mr. S. Ramachandran Pillai, attended the secretariat meeting. He would brief the State committee about the deliberations of the politburo and Central committee. While doing so, he would have to touch upon the League question as well and that would set the stage for what could very well become a stormy session.

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Section  : Southern States
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